<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PROVIDIAN CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       10,952
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        0
<EQUITIES>                                 455
<MORTGAGE>                                 5,582           <F1>
<REAL-ESTATE>                              54
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             21,965
<CASH>                                     904
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                         0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     1,508
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             28,993          <F2>
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            9,668           <F3>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        0
<POLICY-OTHER>                             0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                      7,170           <F4>
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            768
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      100             <F5>
<PREFERRED>                                0
<COMMON>                                   115
<OTHER-SE>                                 2,975           <F6>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               28,993          <F7>
<PREMIUMS>                                 1,199
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        1,932
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                         4
<OTHER-INCOME>                             487             <F8>
<BENEFITS>                                 1,735           <F9>
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                298             <F10>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                       854             <F11>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            624
<INCOME-TAX>                               183
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        435
<DISCONTINUED>                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            0
<CHANGES>                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                               435
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              4.64
<EPS-DILUTED>                              0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                           0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                    0
<FN>
<F1>Includes Commercial and Residential mortgage loans.
<F2>Includes Consumer Loans of $3,550.
<F3>Includes Benefit reserves, Individual annuity reserves and other policy
liabilities.
<F4>Consists of Group annuity deposits.
<F5>Consists of Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable
Preferred Securities of Providian LLC.
<F6>Includes Additional paid-in capital, Net unrealized investment gain,
Retained earnings, Common stock held in treasury and Unearned restricted stock.
<F7>Includes Banking Deposits of $3,390.
<F8>Includes Consumer loan servicing fees of $281.
<F9>Includes Benefits and claims and Increase in benefit and contract reserves.
<F10>Includes Amortization of deferred policy and loan acquisition costs, value
of insurance in force purchased and goodwill.
<F11>Includes Commissions,net and General,administrative and other expenses,net.
</FN>



</TABLE>